It is safest to be moderately base - to be flexible in shame, and to be always ready for what is generous, good, and just, when anything is to be gained by virtue. Sydney Smith More Quotes by Sydney Smith More Quotes From Sydney Smith Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for, and you will succeed. Sydney Smith success motivational inspirational The main question to a novel is -- did it amuse? were you surprised at dinner coming so soon? did you mistake eleven for ten? were you too late to dress? and did you sit up beyond the usual hour? If a novel produces these effects, it is good; if it does not -- story, language, love, scandal itself cannot save it. It is only meant to please; and it must do that or it does nothing. Sydney Smith dinner mistake writing Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence. Sydney Smith happiness love friendship A great deal of talent is lost to the world for the want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves a number of obscure men who have only remained obscure because their timidity has prevented them from making a first effort; and who, if they could only have been induced to begin, would in all probability have gone great lengths in the career of fame. Sydney Smith confidence nature courage Thank God for tea! What would the world do without tea! How did it exist? I am glad I was not born before tea. Sydney Smith thank-god tea world A man who wishes to make his way in life could do no better than go through the world with a boiling tea-kettle in his hand. Sydney Smith way-in-life men hands we know nothing of tomorrow, our business is to be good and happy today Sydney Smith tomorrow today happiness Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out. Sydney Smith trying men religion A comfortable house is a great source of happiness. It ranks immediately after health and a good conscience. Sydney Smith house home happiness He who drinks a tumbler of London water has literally in his stomach more animated beings than there are men, women, and children on the face of the globe. Sydney Smith humor funny children If I were to begin life again, I would devote it to music. It is the only cheap and unpunished rapture upon earth. Sydney Smith rapture music earth Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them. Sydney Smith marriage anniversary moving Resolve to make at least one person happy every day, and then in ten years you may have made three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy, or brightened a small town by your contribution to the fund of general enjoyment. Sydney Smith new-year three years The two women exchanged the type of glance women use when there is no knife handy. Sydney Smith knives funny two People who love only once in their lives are shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom, or their lack of imagination Sydney Smith loyalty imagination people Politeness is good nature regulated by good sense. Sydney Smith politeness good-nature army Lucy, dear child, mind your arithmetic. You know in the first sum of yours I ever saw there was a mistake. You had carried two (as a cab is licensed to do), and you ought, dear Lucy, to have carried but one. Is this a trifle? What would life be without arithmetic, but a scene of horrors. Sydney Smith mistake life children I always fear that creation will expire before teatime. Sydney Smith coffee-and-tea creation tea The thing about performance, even if it's only an illusion, is that it is a celebration of the fact that we do contain within ourselves infinite possibilities. Sydney Smith acting motivational inspirational If you want to improve your understanding, drink coffee. Sydney Smith coffee understanding want
